Involved in music since piano lessons at age 5 and playing in bands starting at age 15. Traditional music training led to a classical background on trombone. On the road with various bands on bass guitar starting at age 18 and began a very long and diverse but parallel career as a professional musician and airline pilot.

When the airline industry was shaken after 9/11, Gary branched out in the music business and founded both a vintage guitar company and a production company in New York City, producing high-end events including two Super Bowls. Gary also founded the Philadelphia Funk Authority in 1998 in his vision of what a great dance and party band should be. 20 years later Philly Funk is still performing to enthusiastic crowds at upwards of 100 events each year.